Manchester City began their campaign in the new season with a 3-2 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield, the traditional curtain raiser to the English Premier League.
In a game, which had more bad tackles and hard fouls than goals, strikes from Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri helped the EPL defending champions to their first trophy of the season, with Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic sent off late in the first half.
The match had eight yellow cards and one red, with Ivanovic receiving a straight red after a dangerous tackle on Aleksandar Kolarov.
Chelsea scored through Fernando Torres and Ryan Bertrand, but could not find an equaliser.
"It's going to be a tough league this year because there's a lot of quality around -- as you've seen today," City captain Vincent Kompany told ITV.
"It will be another interesting season again and if we can improve on last season again I'll be very happy.
Asked about the sending off, Kompany said: "I'm not going to get involved. I was a bit far from the action so didn't see."
City coach Roberto Mancini, who has had a turbulent relationship with Tevez at the club, was delighted to see the Argentinian hit top form. "I am very happy because Carlos this year has worked very well in pre-season, and his form is better than last year.
"Also this year he wants to play football. For a player, it is difficult when he does not play. Last season he did not play for six months and this is difficult.
"I expect him to be a very important player. He is a top player if he wants to play.
"Last year we had Carlos for the last 10 games and it was important because he scored five or six goals.
"But he was not 100 percent. This year is the first time in four or five years he has done a pre-season and, for every player, this is important."
Mancini admitted the sending off was the turning point for his side. "It was a good performance. When Chelsea were leading 1-0, we played better.
"With the sending-off, it was difficult to see from the bench but it is an advantage to play with an extra player.
"It had an impact on the game. It is impossible to say no because 11 versus 11 is different. But we played better than Chelsea, played better football."
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo was disappointed with the red card and said Ivanovic had no intention of hurting his opponent. "It changed the game in favor of Manchester City. We competed very well and at that point were in the lead.
"It was difficult in the second half against 10 men.
"The challenge had no intent to hurt the opposition. It was a sliding tackle and he got the ball as well.
"Sometimes a red card is given in those circumstances, sometimes it is not. But there was no intention to harm the opponent."
Di Matteo praised the performance of Eden Hazard, but admitted the player still had plenty of room for improvement. "He was lively, caused a few problems, had a couple of opportunities, we saw glimpses of his quality, and he will be a big success for us.
"Fernando (Torres) was also dangerous in what was his first 90 minutes since coming back into training under three weeks ago.
"But we have to share the responsibilities for goals between the team - Hazard, Torres, Ramires, (Juan) Mata, (Daniel) Sturridge, (Frank) Lampard can all score goals."